Process for obtaining bio-functional fractions from biomass

Abstract

The present invention includes a process for extracting bio-functional materials from biomass. The method comprises providing biomass and subjecting the biomass to substantially instantaneous pressurization and depressurization to separate bio-functional materials, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from the biomass.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for extracting bio-functional and bio-responsive fractions from biomass, comprising: 
 providing biomass;    treating the biomass with saturated steam at a time and temperature effective to extract bio-functional and bio-responsive fractions; and    rapidly depressurization the biomass and steam.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biomass is subjected to pressurization at a temperature of about 390 to 460 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biomass is subjected to pressurization for a time ranging from 2 minutes to 4 hours.  
     
     
         4 . A process for extraction of bio-functional materials from biomass, comprising: 
 determining quantities of the bio-functional materials in the living biomass;    harvesting the biomass;    subjecting the biomass to saturated steam at a time and temperature effective to extract the bio-functional materials; and    rapidly depressurizing the biomass to extract the bio-functional materials.    
     
     
         5 . A bio-functional material produced by the method of  claim 1  or  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . A native cellulose produced by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A native cellulose produced by the method of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         8 . A biomass extract consisting essentially of a water soluble fraction comprising pectin.  
     
     
         9 . A biomass extract consisting essentially of an insoluble fraction comprising cellulose, protein and lignin.  
     
     
         10 . The biomass extract of  claim 8  wherein the pectin fraction is 30 weight percent of the biomass.  
     
     
         11 . The biomass extract of  claim 9  wherein the cellulose, protein, lignin fraction is 70 weight percent of the biomass.  
     
     
         12 . A bio-refined extract of biomass consisting of an insoluble fraction comprising pectin and arabinogalactan.  
     
     
         13 . A bio-refined extract of biomass, derived from the insoluble fraction of  claim 12 , comprising L-arabinose.  
     
     
         14 . The bio-refined extract of biomass, derived from the insoluble fraction of  claim 12 , comprising galacturonic acid.  
     
     
         15 . The bio-refined extract of biomass, derived from the insoluble fraction of  claim 12 , comprising xylose.  
     
     
         16 . An insoluble bio-refined extract, obtained from the fraction of  claim 9 , comprising cellulose.  
     
     
         17 . A bio-refined extract consisting of monomers, oligomers, and polymers of carboxymethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         18 . A bio-refined extract consisting of protein isolates.  
     
     
         19 . A bio-refined extract consisting of coniferyl alcohol.  
     
     
         20 . A process for extracting a stereoisomer from biomass, comprising: 
 providing biomass;    subjecting the biomass to substantially instantaneous pressurization and de-pressurization in a manner effective to separate lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose in the biomass;    hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to form hemicellulose hydrolysates; and    separating one or more stereoisomers from the hemicellulose hydrolysates using adsorption.    
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising reducing size of the biomass prior to pressurization.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising compacting the biomass prior to pressurization.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the biomass provided is one or more of wood, beets, corn, soy, wheat, and plant biomass.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the stereoisomer separated is L-arabinose.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the biomass is subjected to pressurization at a temperature of about 390 to 460 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the biomass is subjected to pressurization for not more than about 10 minutes.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the biomass is reduced to a size of sawdust.  
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising feeding the biomass for pressurization continuously.  
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising adding moisture to the biomass before pressurization.  
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrolysis occurs in a reactor/static mixer.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the hydrolysis occurs at about 329 to 347 degrees Fahrenheit, under pressure.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 11  wherein sodium hydroxide is added to the static mixer in a flowpath that is counter-current to the flow of hemicellulose.  
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the stereoisomer separation is performed with co-polymer beads.  
     
     
         34 . A system for obtaining monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides from biomass, comprising: 
 a mechanism for substantially instantaneously pressurizing and de-pressurizing biomass to separate the biomass into hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin;    a heater for heating the hemicellulose to liquefy the hemicellulose;    a reactor/mixer for mixing a sodium hydroxide with hemicellulose and for making hemicellulose hydrolysates; and    a mechanism for selectively separating a hemicellulose hydrolysate based upon the component's stereoisomeric identity.    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 15  wherein a biomass comprises sugar beet pulp.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose product does not enter a glassy state but is liquefied.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose product is free of caramelized hemicellulose product.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the sodium hydroxide is in the aqueous phase.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose hydrolysates comprise d-arabinose, l-arabinose, d-xylose, l-xylose, d-glucose, l-glucose, and any other racemic carbohydrates.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose hydrolysates comprise polygalacturonic acid.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose hydrolysates comprise any backbone polymer.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 15  and further comprising a mechanism which receives the hemicellulose hydrolysates.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the hemicellulose hydrolysates are separated into optically pure products.  
     
     
         44 . A process for extracting L-arabinose from sugar beet pulp, comprising: 
 providing sugar beet pulp;    subjecting the sugar beet pulp to substantially instantaneous pressurization and de-pressurization in a manner effective to separate lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose in the sugar beet pulp;    hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to form hemicellulose hydrolysates; and    separating L-arabinose from the hemicellulose hydrolysates using chromatography.    
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 24  wherein the L-arabinose is produced at a rate of at least 1000 pounds per day.  
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising extracting derivatives and substituents from cellulose and lignin.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 1  and further comprising crystallizing the separated product.  
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 27  wherein the crystallizing is performed using a low intensity ultrasonic agitation.